NWS Wilmington, NC

Weather Forecast Office

Coastal Storm: October 10-13, 2025

Overview A slow-moving coastal storm significantly impacted the Southeast U.S. from October 10 to October 13 during a period of "king tides" due to a recent full moon and lunar perigee. Tropical storm force wind gusts, heavy rainfall and high tides caused significant rainfall/tidal flooding and hazardous marine/surf conditions across portions of southeast NC, northeast SC and the nearby Atlantic waters.

Infrared Satellite Imagery
Regional Radar
Mean Sea Level Pressure

Rainfall/Flash Flooding

The rainfall forecast was quite challenging given the weather models' poor handling of the offshore low pressure system which ended up being stronger, closer and slower to the area than originally anticipated. The surface and mid-level low pressure systems led to more moisture and even a bit of instability (Surface CAPE / Most Unstable CAPE / Mid-level Lapse Rates) that resulted in very heavy showers and even some thunderstorms, with the heaviest rainfall on October 12 focused in a few areas around Georgetown, SC and the NC/SC state line between around Whiteville, NC and Mullins, SC where 9"+ fell in a few spots. A summary of rainfall reports can be found here and a map of rainfall reports from the CoCoRaHS network can be found here. Significant flash flooding occurred on October 12, especially in portions of Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Columbus Counties, at least some of which was also partially due to tidal flooding in areas near the coast. Numerous roads and properties were flooded and several people even had to be rescued from vehicles.

Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) 72-hr rainfall estimate from 12 UTC (8 AM EDT) October 10 to 12 UTC (8 AM EDT) October 13 across southeast NC and northeast SC

72-hr precipitation analysis from 12 UTC (8 AM EDT) October 10 to 12 UTC (8 AM EDT) October 13, 2025 across southeast NC and northeast SC

High Tides/Coastal Flooding

The full moon on October 6 and lunar perigee on October 8 led to higher than normal astronomical tides even before the stronger north to northeast winds occurred as the coastal storm developed and tracked close to the coast. Several days of minor tidal flooding occurred along the southeast NC and northeast SC coasts with water levels peaking during the high tide Friday (Oct 10) morning at Springmaid Pier (8.38 ft above MLLW / 2.78 ft above MHHW), which was just shy of moderate flood levels, and at Wrightsville Beach (7.36 ft above MLLW / 2.85 ft above MHHW). A look at some of the flooding along the Grand Strand can be found here. At Wilmington, the lower Cape Fear River tide peaked at 6.29 ft above MLLW (1.61 ft above MHHW) during the afternoon high tide on Sunday (Oct 12) which led to minor tidal flooding. NOTE: The MHHW (Mean Higher High Water) level is a proxy for the level where inundation typically begins.

The extended period of high tides also led to significant beach erosion in some areas.


Water level observations (feet above MLLW) at the NOAA/NOS tide gage at Myrtle Beach, SC	Water level observations (feet above MLLW) at the NOAA/NOS tide gage at Wilmington, NC	Water level observations (feet above MLLW) at the NOAA/NOS tide gage at Wrightsville Beach, NC

Winds

Tropical storm-force wind gusts up to ~60 mph were measured near the coast and over the nearby Atlantic. However, no significant direct wind impacts were reported.

Page Author: Bob Bright
Page Created: October 21, 2025

Coastal Storm: October 10-13, 2025

Overview

Rainfall/Flash Flooding

High Tides/Coastal Flooding

Winds